Moldavite - Meteorite gemstone created from natural glass

Moldavite is an attractive and really interesting gemstone, mostly due to its origin.  I love it because I love olive green, or army green, or loden. Whatever you call it, I just love this deep and richly green colored gemstone. The first specimens were found along the Moldau River in Czechoslovakia in 1787.  These gemstones were formed as a result of a meteor strike.

Actually this gemstone is made up of green natural glass and can be found in yellows, browns, or greens. The most favored color of the stone is the olive green shade that usually shows up with tiny trapped gas bubbles inside of it. 

The story is that this gemstone was formed as a result of a meteor that hit the ground about 15 million years ago. Small deposits of it can also be found in Austria and Germany. Moldavite is believed to be the outer surface of meteorites, that fused and melted during entry into our atmosphere. Moldavite has a diagnostic pattern of striae and bubbles (elongated, torpedo-shaped) that are unlike man-made glass.

I happen to love olive green and there are very few gemstones that offer this color....at least few that are fairly affordable. 

Demantoid garnets can also show this color with a diamond like sparkle but, again, the cost is far higher and larger stones are not affordable unless one has an inheritance to rely on. Moldavite is a tektite, and a stone of intense frequency and high vibration.

In ancient times Moldavite was thought to be a mystical stone that could bring good luck and fulfillment of wishes.
Legend says that moldavite was the stone from which the holy grain was carved.  For those of us that (as I've mentioned before) remember lava lamps and black light posters, this stone has a holistic-cool-and-groovy side as well.

Legend has it that wearing this stone provides  an advantage when you are working with spirit... so you can be sure that what you are making contact with is of 'the light'. So for those of you who are mediums, conduct seances or channel the dearly departed, take note. Moldavite is also touted as an aid in meditation. Can you hear the chanting? Can you smell the incense?

All I know is that this gemstone makes lovely jewelry items and I really like it. I'll let you guys know if it helps me get into meditating. Of course I'll need help getting my legs uncrossed and getting up off the floor...

Happy trails, fellow rock hounds...
Pam






References

http://www.mindat.org/min-10860.html

http://www.gemologyonline.com/moldavite.html

http://www.healing-crystals-for-you.com/moldavite.html

http://www.realgems.org/list_of_gemstones/moldavite.html

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-republic

Chrome Diopside - Geeky name for a beautiful gemstone

If you think opals and larimar are lovely stones, you're really gonna love Chrome Diopside. Yeah, ugly, clinical sounding name I admit, but these gemstones are what every emerald would dream of looking like. 

 

Talk about green with envy....sorry, I know that was corny, but this stone is really so very lovely.  And chrome diopside, at least most of the gem grade rough comes from Siberia.  Yeah, the place where the Russian exiles were sent, well that place is home to a wonderful gemstone too.

Trouble is that the temperatures are so ridiculously cold in Siberia that mining can only be done for three months of the year. Chrome diopside is mined in the wilds of Eastern Siberia in a region called Inagli in the Sakha Republic (a.k.a. Yakutia). The Yakutia territory is located in Eastern Russia and is considered the coldest place in Siberia as well as in the northern hemisphere. The Yakut people (who call themselves Sakha) are descended from Turkic, Mongol, and native Siberian tribes. Yakutia is one of the pivotal territories of the Russian Federation.

Winter lasts for nine months, and it's too cold to mine diopside in the winter—which makes it difficult to keep production levels steady throughout the year.  During the Siberian winter, reindeer sledding is a much more common pastime than mining. We've all heard the punch line, "send him to Siberia" but I never realized how severe a sentence that would be. It's so cold in this region - how cold is it? - that the rough is only mined during three months of the year. 

Chrome diopside is the birthstone for the month of March and is associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces.  According to AJS Gems, the name Diopside is derived from the Greek word 'di' meaning two, and 'opsis', meaning vision which makes sense when you realize that Diopside is believed to be a creative stone, increasing creative visualization and helping to manifest desired goals. It has also been said that it can improve the wearer's intellect, particularly with regards to mathematical and analytical abilities. In addition to this, Diopside is believed to alleviate aggression and stubbornness, and is said to be related to love, commitment, and the inner heart. Gee, wonder if I can get an outfit studded with this stuff....I need all the help I can get trying to get rid of my stubborn streak...ah, but I digress. 

The intense green color of this gem comes from chromium in the chemical make up, CaMg (Fe,Cr)Si2O6.  Its chrystal structure is body-centered cubic. 

Because chrome diopside has a Mohs hardness of 5.5, similar to opal or tanzanite, it should be placed in a setting that offers protection.  If you want to ensure as many years of enjoyment for this gemstone, take it off when you're playing sports or doing any other strenuous activities.  

As for traveling to the source of this lovely gemstone, well let's just say that I don't even like the temperatures in Michigan when they approach zero. Temperatures that can drop as low as 70 degrees below zero, well that's a chilly hell I have NO intention of experiencing first hand. To be honest, I got chill just looking at the photographs of the people in their beautiful fluffy fur coats and those amazing hats....fashion statement or survival?

Happy trails fellow rock hounds...
Pam

Larimar - Almost as lovely as a Caribbean sky...

Larimar is another single source gemstone,but this one comes from a location that is a lot closer to home, at least for me. This beautiful semi-precious gem whose pattern and color mimmic the blue skies and beautiful cloud formations found in the Caribbean, can be found at local retailers, jewelry and gem shows, and through our friends at Jewelry Television. At the present, Larimar only comes from the Dominican Republic. Unlike opal or chrome diopside, Larimar has not been designated as a birthstone. 

Incidentally, this bright and delicate gem is the result of violent processes at extremely high temperatures. Larimar stone is found only in the volcanic areas of Dominican Republic and geologists suggest that as the molten lava got pushed to the edge of the chimneys of the volcano, exposure to outer atmosphere caused crystallization. Over a period of a thousand years the crystallized rocks started to unwrap. Erosion and natural polishing resulted in lovely blue stones initially showing up on the beaches of the Bahoruco River.
The actual mine is in Barahona, several kilometers north of the main road from Barahona to Bahoruco. The road is very steep and hilly and is not passable without a four wheel drive vehicle. There is also no signage posted so if you do not know where you are going, you will have a very difficult time finding the mine. 

 Aside from that, like many areas of the remote Dominican countryside, the structures in the area surrounding the mine are mostly small, poorly constructed houses and huts. Most of their occupants are men that are employed in the larimar mines and their families. These men usually begin working in the mines at a very young age. As there is not much other opportunity, the mines provide some stability and though the men earn little money, it is enough to allow them and their families to live a simple lifestyle. 

I'm not exactly tuned in to most of the mythology around gemstones, but it is fun to read and reminds me of my misspent youth, lava lamps, and black light posters. So here goes...

Larimar is considered a healing stone, and said to be finely tuned to the human body particularly to the throat area. The belief is that Larimar increases speech and communication skills and supports the body's natural healing process. Larimar is also called the Atlantis Stone, because a Spiritual Master who lived in Trinidad and Tobago and who founded Yoga Centers across the world, claimed that some islands in the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic were part of the lost continent of Atlantis.

Scientifically, Larimar or Blue Pectolite is unique in its mineral and chemical make-up. Copper is the cause of blue color in the stone. That is the only connection of Larimar to beautiful blue stone known as Turquoise. Sodium calcium silicate with a copper ion is the chemical description of Larimar. All I know is that Larimar is a beautiful and affordable semi-precious gemstone. I only own one piece, but it's only January and that leaves me 335 shopping days until Christmas......suhweet!

Happy Trails to my fellow rock hounds....
Pam





References

http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/articles/larimar.php

http://www.articleclick.com/Article/The-Properties-of-Precious-Larimar-Stone/1057171

http://dr1.com/articles/larimar_1.shtml

http://puntacanabavaro.com/travel/punta-cana-gettaways-larimar-mines-of-bahoruco.html

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/lgcolor/docolor.htm

Ethiopian Opals - Better than Australia's Best

First off, I must admit to being a gemstone fanatic. I think admitting to one's own addictions is the first step to truly enjoying them.  I love the look of gemstones, the feel of gemstones, and the process of designing settings that will hold my gemstones. The only thing I love almost as much as gemstones is travel, so I thought chatting about the places where the gemstones originate would be a fun and interesting exercise.

My birthday is in October and that makes my birthstone Opal. Up until about five years ago, all of the worlds prized opals were mined in Australia. But most recently, the most beautiful and affordable gem quality stones come from Ethiopia. So, let's explore the place that produces some of the most beautiful examples of opal on the planet.

The region where the best of the Ethiopian opals are coming from is called Welo (sometimes spelled Wollo) and is located in Northwestern Ethiopia. The landscape of the region is both beautiful and rugged.  

The people are quite diverse and, as a result,  many languages and dialects are spoken. Most of the population, approximately 90%, live outside of the cities.

Mining for the beautiful opals that are now in great demand is a painstaking task, done primarily by hand, and conducted by local residents. 

The miners use hand tools and brute force to unearth the opal rough.  The conditions in which they work are extremely challenging. One of the mining sites is shown below. Notice the sheer cliffs and absence of visible paths, scaffolding, or earth moving equipment available for the miners' use. These guys are my heroes considering what they endure to find these precious stones. As much as I love my birthstone, there is NO WAY on this green earth that I would have the courage to go looking for the rough in these (or really any) difficult conditions. I admit that I'm an urban girl, a bit of a wuss, and definitely not someone who believes in "roughing it." 

Once found, the rough it sold then cut and polished (outside Ethiopia) into the beautiful examples of the gemstone shown below.  

Demand for these gems is quite high due to their beauty and affordability. Compared to Australian opals, Ethiopian opals are flashier and can be purchased for about a third of what a comparable Australian opal would command. One place you can find a great selection is at Jewelry Television, arguably one of the largest gemstone retailers in the world (www.jtv.com). In addition to their beauty, these stones are much harder than Australian opals so they are often faceted - something that was never done to Australian opals.  The finished stones are sold internationally through retail outlets as well as through a number of online jewelry and gemstone-specific sites.  

I hope to visit this ruggedly beautiful landscape to see the mines and the local people firsthand. Hopefully this little glimpse into the world of Ethiopian opals will encourage some of you, my readers, to think about visiting Ethiopia as well. 

Happy Trails to my fellow rock hounds!
Pam




References


http://www.opalinda.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65:wollo-wello-welo-opal-opals-ethiopia&catid=18:activefilesopalinda

http://www.falasha-recordings.co.uk/teachings/ethist.html

http://kylerdeutmeyer.com/galleries/show/200

http://www.ethiopiaopals.com/infoonethiopia.html